Part 3- The Lost Children
Kyra looked across the dying campfire to her listless companion. He was darkly attractive. His hair was pulled back in a dull black ponytail revealing his pointed elvish ears. His body was lean and toned, obviously he had kept himself in great physical condition. His skin was ashen gray and his eyes, the eyes of his father, were dead black and pupiless. She sighed sadly as she watched him shiver in the fall evening, he could not feel the warmth of the bonfire. he could bed down right in the center of it and never even be stirred. He could wade through lava as if it were water. Flame and heat held no fear for him, but neither could he be comforted by any warmth. Warmth, and she wondered, perhaps comfort, was something that simply did not exist for him. The thought saddened her immensely.
She pitied him. He had not asked for his heritage, and doubtless had not wanted it. She watched him closely, as she had for months, keeping vigil on his obsidian eyes, wondering what he thought of his liberation. As her eyes lingered over the three jagged linear scars running down the left side of his face, she was reminded that the demonic were not kind to half-breeds. She sighed deeply, vainly wishing that the stirred embers of the fire could provide him with some solace from the cold, but he continued to shiver in the dark, his body encased in the wicked iron armor inches from the remaining flames.
His strange eyes flickered open slowly and he stared back at her with an unnatural piercing gaze. "He won't let me go so easily you must realize."
His voice was like one long resigned sigh. She nodded her head resolutely in the affirmative. She had known well the price of freeing this one from the depths of the Worldwound. It had already cost her a terrible price, she had watched her friends die around her. She did not, however, doubt her course of action. That was one of her strengths, or weaknesses. She never doubted, could never doubt or deny, her convictions whatever the cost to herself. She looked directly into his eyes and realized suddenly that he was the exact opposite, he was unsure of everything. It had no value to him. This life that he had suddenly been given had no worth in his mind. The very thought of it staggered her, but she reminded herself not to judge him too harshly, he had never known freedom before. "Talongaard where do you want to go?" she asked gently.
He shrugged. she had found that he often did. He didn't care, perhaps he couldn't care. One place was as good as the next from what he could tell. The end was inevitable in his mind. He would be returned to his father eventually, probably punished horribly, and then put back on the hunt. "Someplace warmer than this." He muttered, half wishing to be back in the Worldwound away from this dreadful cold.
She removed her sparkling golden cloak, walked around the fire and calmly laid it across his shoulders. He stared blankly up at her taking in her equally radiant golden chain armor and smiled slightly at the unsolicited kindness. Then he ruefully asked, "Kyra why did you come to get me?"
She threw back her long golden hair and shook her head incredulously. "How many years did you think I could leave my brother suffering so?"
He averted his gaze momentarily as the guilt he bore regarding his freedom weighed heavily upon him. When he looked back up at her, her features were virtually sparkling with righteousness despite the rising darkness. "So many more dead for only me?"
The idea of it seemed completely obscene to him. He could still see the score of pure heavenly souls falling at the wicked blades of his father's troops, they did not die cleanly. His gaze was more judgmental than he intended. "How could you?"
She stood unflinching, her features tightening resolutely. "How could I not?"
He nodded slowly, almost understanding. He remembered her heritage. she could not have chosen any differently had she wanted to, eventually her blood would have compelled her to his rescue. Her path was as defined, and almost as tragic, as his own. "He will come for me." he repeated, resigning himself to his horrible fate.
she nodded, an edge of sadness creeping across her features, knowing full well that this next time she would not be backed by an army of celestials. She had used all that remained of her father's influence in freeing her brother and, after what would only be regarded as a disastrous failure, she could not expect any more aid from those heavenly beings. She cast another glance at her brother. They were undeniably alone... but she had finally rescued him. She did not doubt that the sacrifice had been worth it. That was her strength, she never doubted.
Aalarphu stood amid his troops, a small strike force of perhaps twenty demons, all battle hardened and eager to venture to the world of men. Arueshalae, a beautiful seductress, sauntered up to him making no attempt to hide her naked features. Almost despite himself, Aalarphu found himself licking his scaled lips with his forked tongue. It took great force of will for him to refocus himself on the task of preparing supplies as she drew nearer. To Aalarphu warfare was all. His dedication to the carnage of battle was paramount and that was what saved him, barely, from the influence of demons such as Arueshalae. She touched him lightly on his muscular shoulder and his desire for anything besides her almost buckled his massive knees. He spun quickly away from her and called forth his magic, electricity crackling around his talons. Instantly she disappeared, his bolt of lightning tearing through the empty, smoke filled air. He spun around quickly, knowing this tactic well. There she was! Her living ropes spiraling up and around her outstretched arms, reaching towards him.
Aalarphu had no doubts that he could shred through the animated cords easily enough, but he wondered how long he would be able to resist her unearthly charms. With a thought he summoned a ball of fire and cast it in her direction. The explosion rocked the stones beneath his scaled feet and bathed him in the conflagration, but he had no trouble maintaining his balance. He waited calmly for the smoke to dissipate. Arueshalae laid flat on the earth smoking, her ropes burned to ashes, her body unmoving. Casually the large demon walked over to her body and gave her a rough kick. "Get up woman! I know the fire did you no permanent harm!"
With a sigh the beautiful demon extended her bat-like wings , flapped them once and rose to her feet. When she was upright she smiled widely. "You treat me most unkindly Commander Aalarphu."
The massive demon chuckled deeply. "That's because I know not to trust you demon-witch. Why are you here?"
She shrugged. "Have I not always watched the powerful? You have the master's eye now. Is it so unusual that I seek you out when you have demonstrated an ability to earn his favor?"
"It is unusual that you want any part of me considering what my mission is." The crafty commander replied, fully aware of her past.
Arueshalae batted her eyes coyly and inched towards him, making sure every inch of her sensuous body remained exposed. His massive spiked arm darted out catching her by the throat before she had the chance to react and he lifted her into the air. "I should kill you!" he growled.
"No." she rasped, struggling for breath, kicking her feet and beating her wings helplessly.
He drew her face close to his fanged maw. "Why are you here Arueshalae? I will not ask you again."
His clawed fist began to crush her fragile neck. "I want to go with you!" she finally cried out.
His maw drew wide in a mocking smile. "You want to see your lover one last time? How sweet for a demon to express such sentiments."
Aalarphu threw her roughly to the rocky earth. "Get away from here slut! I need none of Talongaard's whores to help me."
Arueshalae drew herself up resolutely, ignoring the dirt and bruises that covered her immaculate form. "I can help you. I know him. I know mortals. I can gather information that none of your other minions can."
Aalarphu looked at her skeptically. "Vorgal'neys can torture a human for years without killing him. He can remove all of their skin and still not allow them to die. Amputate every limb and keep them sentient. What can you possibly offer that he cannot get me?"
The beautiful demon smiled, revealing her slight fangs. "Expediency. You do not have years to wait for Vorgal'nyeys to extract information only to then find out that your quarry has moved on. No mortal talks like one bedded by me. I can find one information in a single night that would take him weeks to extract. Additionally, I can offer myself to you."
"Why would I want to share a mortal's mate?" Aalarphu asked contemptuously, although his interest was obviously peaked by the gorgeous demon.
Arueshalae threw her arms wide, making certain to reveal all of her charms, "Because I can deliver to you all that you desire."